Friday, June 21, 2002
His fight tonight may set the stage for an ESPN-televised bout in Youngstown
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Kelly "Ghost" Pavlik's bout tonight in Las Vegas could be the break-out fight of his professional career.
"After this fight, he is going to get a huge promotion. We are talking to ESPN about a July 30 boxing show in Youngstown," said Lee Samuels of Top Rank Boxing, which is Pavlik's sponsor.
Pavlik of Youngstown, a Lowellville High graduate, will carry a perfect 12-0 record against Eric Oles (5-2) of Cleveland tonight in a scheduled eight-round bout at The Orleans Hotel-Casino.
The main event of the Top Rank Boxing card will pit Juan Manuel Marquez (38-3, 30 KOs) of Mexico City, the International Boxing Federation's No. 1-rated featherweight, against Hector Chocolate Marquez (25-8, 18 KOs) of Toluca, Mexico, in a 10-round bout.
Pavlik not on TV
Pavlik's fight may be the second or third on the six-bout card that begins at 9 p.m.
But although part of the show will be televised by the Telefutura Network, an off-shoot of Univision, Pavlik's bout will not be included in the telecast.
"Telefutura is brand new network. Univision was getting so big that it started a second network -- like ESPN and ESPN2," said Samuels. "It is a Spanish network, with movies, a lot of boxing and soccer. [It has] the same staple that drove Univision to become a big network. We have a Friday night [boxing] series on it."
Samuels said that Pavlik, who is trained by Jack Loew at the Southside Boxing Club, has developed a promising reputation as a fighter, and that tonight's fight could swing open the doors wider for his career.
"He is regarded as one of the top prospects. He is going to get a tremendous promotional push. He is getting ready to break out into some big fights," said Samuels, who thinks Pavlik will prevail tonight to set the stage for his possible ESPN fight in Youngstown on July 30.
"He should win this fight. The only problem we would have is if he gets cut or injured," said Samuels.
kovach@vindy.com